Newspaper and website publishers in Scotland would be forced to sign up to a
stringent regulatory system under proposals, being considered by Alex
Salmond, which far exceed Lord Leveson’s recommendations and give sweeping
new powers to politicians.

A Scottish Government-commissioned committee has called for much tougher
constraints on the industry than those outlined by the UK inquiry into Press
Standards. Rather than a voluntary, opt-in system, it wants to see a
regulator, replacing the existing Press Complaints Commission, which would
have automatic control over all publishers, in print and online — and
possibly on social media sites such as Twitter.